NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: health, social sciences, wellness, mental health, social services, children's health

Objective(s): To determine contributing factors to child maltreatment substantiation and out-of-home placement, among adult functioning, child functioning and poverty, in the 2003 CIS study; to compare these findings with the current information captured in the CFIS database, and determine whether enough information is being collected on these key figures, and if so, have any of these challenges been addressed to reduce the risk to children related to poverty and adult or child functioning.

Project Description: Research Objective(s): - To determine contributing factors to child maltreatment substantiation and out-of-home placement, among adult functioning, child functioning and poverty, in the 2003 Canadian Incidents Study (CIS) study; - To compare these findings with the current information captured in the Child and Family Services Information System (CFIS) database, and determine whether enough information is being collected on these key figures, and if so, have any of these challenges been addressed to reduce the risk to children related to poverty and adult or child functioning; Key Questions: Do poverty and child and adult mental health issues increase the likelihood that maltreatment will be substantiated and/or children removed from the home? If so, has this relationship changed in the past ten years through financial supports and other referrals provided through child and family services? The measures used from the 2003 Northwest Territories Incidents Study (NWTIS) data will be child maltreatment substantiation and child apprehension data, as well as secondary measures including: adult functioning, including mental health, addictions and violence-related indicators; child functioning, including substance use, development, behavioural and mental health issues, and violence towards others; and poverty, including education levels and housing conditions. This study will also look at services to which families are referred. The data requested from the CFIS will not be as complete as the NWTIS data, as it will be extracted from practice records as opposed to collected in formal survey modules. However, the measures extracted will attempt to mirror those collected in the 2003 NWTIS to the greatest extent possible, including collecting child maltreatment substantiation and child apprehension data, child and adult function, and poverty measures. Data regarding referrals to other services, and the reason for referral (including the family seeking financial or other assistance) will also be collected. The first level of analysis will attempt to determine whether there is a significant relationship between adult functioning issues, child functioning issues, or poverty indicators and each of child maltreatment substantiation and child apprehension. The second level of analysis will include all indicators of adult functioning issues, child functioning issues, and poverty indicators, as well as interaction variables, in a stepwise regression model, in order to identify the factors that are most likely to contribute to the decision to remove children from the parental home. The results of this analysis will inform the focus of the analysis involving the 2013 CFIS data, in order to attempt to discover whether the relationship between key variables and maltreatment substantiation and removal from the home has been mitigated by increased referrals and other supports, or whether these interventions have not addressed the most frequently identified contributing factors. This study will hopefully identify intervention priorities in child protection within the NWT, and examine whether these priorities are being adequately addressed, or whether there is room for improvement in services offered to families in the Northwest Territories. This study will provide baseline investigation into the needs of families experiencing poverty, mental health and other issues, allowing us to build a foundation for future evidence-based intervention research within this unique population. The results of this study will be presented in oral and written report format back to the Director of Community Wellness and Social Services at the Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories. Any media or other releases will be made at the discretion of the Director. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.